Recently, author Mabel Ninan contacted me about her new book Far From Home. Mabel Ninan was born and raised in India and an immigrant in America shortly after marriage, Her topic sparked immediate interest. And I did not hesitate to “say yes” to her request. Once the manuscript arrived by electronic file, I poured a delicious latte and devoured the book.
(Image source: MABEL NINAN )
Mabel is the story behind many women in my community near Silicon Valley, California. She takes off the veil of mystery and shares her experience. Quiet, soft spoken, and respectful of her new surroundings, Mabel feels unnoticeable. She experiences insignificance and frustration with her new surroundings.
Yet in her native land, Mable is powerful, well-respected, connected, and highly educated. Because of her husband’s job transfer, she leaves her value and identity in her native society. Then she seeks purpose in a foreign country.
Uprooted into the busyness of America, her story explores immigration as a “trailing spouse.” Her initial isolation and her struggle to regain importance are deeply internal. She struggles to connect. Even at the local coffee shop, where she is awakened by the rudeness of barista on duty.
Looking for her identity in a new culture, Mabel opens her Bible to discover a true identity in Christ. Powerful skeins (loosely coiled threads or yarn) are woven into her testimony.
This is a must-read for merging of cultures into the Christian faith. How can we invite REVIVAL if we are not accepting the citizenship of ALL God’s people?
Mabel’s story invites me to examine my Mother-in-Law, an immigrant from the United Kingdom. In World War 2, she worked as a British decoder, New York runway model, and national security.
And my Great-Grandfather, an immigrant from Ireland who worked in the coal mines and later died of lung cancer.
Mabel’s story also reminds me of my neighbors next door, immigrants from Mexico and joyfully living as an uprooted family. Or my former boss, an app developer from the Ukraine who shares his Christian faith with a generous heart. Even my husband’s Silicon Valley IT department, where they celebrate all cultures and religions with weekly meal gatherings.
Instead of looking through the mini-blinds, shuttered windows, or over the rim of a Venti Latte… it’s time we take off American ambivalence and love our NEW neighbors.
Mable reached out to her Christian community with intentional vulnerability. She experienced the love and identity of Christ through Bible study groups, church attendance, and spiritual growth- Far From Home.
Far from Home: Discovering Your Identity as Foreigners on Earth by Mabel Ninan
ENDORSEMENT FOR MABELS BOOK: Beautifully transparent, Mabel Ninan shares her personal insight from a unique experience of immigration. Yet the revelation of her modern history, is also a reflection of Biblical history when God moves. Inside the stories of uprooted people, we discover the heart of God. This book is a beautiful reminder of our citizenship in His kingdom. – Christine Abraham, Founder & Executive Director Bible Café™ Ministries LLC
ABOUT THE BOOK
Explore the intersection between culture, identity, and faith in this new release from an earthly immigrant who gained a spiritual perspective.
What is my purpose? Why do I exist? A sense of self and belonging are two questions many of us struggle to answer.
And what if you are a foreigner in another land?
How does one adjust to a new culture? Discover their place in a new society?
For Mabel Ninan, born and raised in India and an immigrant in America shortly after marriage, the search for those answers sent her on a journey that led to an unexpected and exciting discovery.
God revealed she was not only an earthly immigrant but also a spiritual one, created with a unique calling to impact His kingdom. Mabel’s renewed perspective imbued her with joy and hope, urging her to share the message with others.
Drawing from her personal experiences and by examining the lives of biblical heroes, Mabel sheds light on what it means to live as a citizen of Heaven on earth. Far from Home will inspire you to:
Embrace your identity as a foreigner on earth.
Make your home with God.
Find community and common purpose with fellow sojourners.
Mabel’s story and book release: www.mabelninan.com
Publisher: Iron Stream (July 12, 2022)
Disclosure: I received an Advanced Manuscript of this book as a member of the Endorsement Team.
The Book of Revelation: Unlocking the Future by Dr. Edward Hindson is helpful to understand the Bible. While earning a degree in Biblica studies. I was required to read this book, along with several commentaries on the book of Revelation. I found this commentary book easy to understand and follow, while some of the other Revelation commentaries provided a deeper level of interpretation. This book is divided into 22 chapters, one for each chapter of Revelation.
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Dr. Ed Hindson, the author of the book, has authored over twenty books and taught more than 50,000 students over the past twenty-five years. He holds several degrees and is a visiting lecturer at Oxford University and Harvard Divinity School. He is the Assistant Chancellor, Professor of Religion and Dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies at Liberty University. Additionally, he was one of the translators for the New King James Version of the Bible.
In The Book of Revelation: Unlocking the Future Dr. Hindson shares the viewpoints of Biblical scholars such as David Jeremiah, Bruce Metzger, Robert Mounce, John Stott, Robert Thomas, John Walvoord and others. He explains the different viewpoints and interpretations of The Revelation as seen from various religious theologies, particularly in chapters that are often debated and argued. He is clear to distinguish his own opinion from the opinions of other Bible scholars and shares when he agrees and disagrees with these teachings.
By the time I completed the book I had a much better understanding of Revelation than when I started. Dr. Hindson brings clarity to the symbolic messages, the time frames, the people, and the events in the end times. I found it refreshing to view these events through the lens of scripture rather than through the lens of fictional books, social media discussions, or theology debates that are too common today. I highly recommend reading The Book of Revelation: Unlocking the Future to enhance your understanding of The Revelation. I also recommend reading additional commentaries such as these below.
Grace For the Moment by Max Lucado is beautifully written and published. This Christian devotional contains 365 inspirational thoughts for each day of the year. I started reading my devotional around Easter, and I have not been disappointed after 40 days of devoted study. I like the book so much that I also purchased Grace for the Moment Volume 2.
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Although 90% of my Christian books are in Kindle format, I still enjoy printed books such as this one. What makes this unique is the softness of the glossy pages, the layout of the verses and commentary, and the lightly printed graphics on each page. The colors are relaxing and gentle…perfect for a devotional morning or night.
GRACE FOR THE MOMENT
Each day of Grace For the Moment includes an inspiring word from 15 Max Lucado books. A great benefit to this book is the book reference on the devotional page, so if you like a particular passage then you know what book it was inspired from. You don’t need to shift pages and lose your place in an appendix or chart of references…it’s easily accessible right on the page. Over time as I highlighted my favorite passages I discovered which Max Lucado books I wanted to read next! I highly recommend this devotional book for yourself and as a treasured gift for a friend.
What Do We Tell The Children? Talking to Kids About Death and Dying by Joseph Primo is an essential handbook for grieving families. The author is also an executive director of Good Grief, a counseling program for children. Since reading his grief care book, I have recommended it to many friends. Here’s why.
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Author Joseph Primo has experience working with the children of the 9/11 attacks in the United States, talking to surviving parents and children. He has experience working with schools and families after suicide impacts a community. He has his own experiences of grief and shares proven methods leading to healthy grief.
In 2013 three of my close family members died, two in the same week. My children attended two funerals the same week, three in the first four months of the year. I’ve read many books on grief this year and I highly recommend this one.
This book gives perspective on why the church lay counseling and private therapist counseling were not effective methods for my kids. Both failed miserably. This book includes many examples of what works and what doesn’t work with children.
Most adults are transferring their inherited views of death into the minds of their kids, and many of these views are harmful rather than helpful.
If you are a schoolteacher, physician working with kids, therapist, church worker, or volunteer…then it is highly recommended that you read this book. Also recommended for parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles..anyone who is talking to kids about their grief.
Thank you to Joseph Primo for writing such an excellent and helpful resource for families.
Whispers of Hope 10 Weeks of Devotional Prayer by Beth Moore is a powerful way to jump-start or reboot your prayer life. This book includes 70 days of focused prayer, following the P.R.A.I.S.E. method. Each morning begins with Praise, Repentance, Acknowledgement, Intercession, Supplication for self, and Equipping.
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Beth Moore teaches her powerful prayer method and then leads readers through 70 days of devotional prayer. When you receive the book you will notice the pages are “antiqued” with a parchment-like edge, and it’s simply gorgeous. The lines for devotional writing are very wide-ruled… and at first, I thought “Not enough space!” Then as I journaled it became clear this space was so I would narrow my focus on the prayer and listen to what God is telling me…not what “I am telling God.”
Each of the daily prayers begins with a Scripture verse and reading. Then Beth Moore shares her commentary on the Scripture and the application of the verse to modern living.
Almost every page in the book is quote-worthy! For example, Beth Moore writes: “I’m certain of two things: prayerless lives are powerless lives, and prayerful lives are powerful lives.” I shared this on Facebook and it went viral with 400 shares in just the first day.
The basis of this book is that prayerful lives are powerful lives. So if you desire this for yourself, then I’d highly recommend the book. Also recommended as a gift for your friends…it’s that awesome! From the book title to the unique page edges and the loving words penned inside….it’s sure to be a classic in any Christian library and a bestseller devotional.
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